28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
“Sin is diametrically opposed to loving God. Sin breeds on the credence that says, ‘I don't believe that God knows what is best for my life, so I'm going to do it my way. Whatever I feel, I'm going to do it because that will make me happier than obeying God.’ At the root of sin is a defiance to live life any way other than God's way. And God hates this. He knows that when people enter into this pattern of thinking, they are venturing down a dangerous road. In His infinite wisdom and love for us, He knows what is best - and it is not sin. To walk in the light of God's love, we must understand how He feels about sin, and we too must feel the same way. Sin should not simply annoy us. It should stir us to action, to repentance, and to prayer, motivating us to pray for ourselves and others.” Michael Youssef
“...Jesus showed us what God really wants to cleanse and purify—our hearts. Christ’s transforming work on the cross helps us to break free from desires that hold us in bondage. As we submit to God, we become like Christ, no longer wanting to offend God. Out of gratitude we obey Him from the inside out.” Tremper Longman
“If religion is worth anything, it is worth everything. They who do not like Christ on these terms, may leave him at their peril. Whatever we part with for this pearl of price, we may comfort ourselves with this belief, that it is well worth what we give for it. The terms are, that we prefer Christ.” Matthew Henry
“To be like Christ. That is our goal, plain and simple.” Charles Swindoll
“You are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world.” Vance Havner
“The essence of true holiness consists in conformity to the nature and will of God.” Samuel Lucas
“Sanctification is a life of Christ-centered choices, made evident in loving obedience to God.” Mel De Peal
“No man can put Jesus Christ to greater shame than by professing the gospel without showing the power of it. There can be no more vile and sordid hypocrisy than for any to pretend unto inward, habitual sanctification, while their lives are barren in the fruits of righteousness and obedience.” K. H. Von Bogatzky